CUSTOM ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

• US 20120216424A1
• Filed: 05/06/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Lyden
• Inventors: Lyden, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,959,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0063 made at least partially of material that can be recycled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/026 Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/183 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/36 Easily-exchangeable soles protecting-soles A43C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/021 Leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/128 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 : with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/22 : with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/02 : Foot-measuring devices measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 11/006 : Devices for temporarily fixing or aligning insoles on lasts
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 : Item configuration or customization

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method of making a custom article of footwear. Further, the article of footwear can include a spring element that can provide improved cushioning, stability, and running economy. In addition, the components of the article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having an anterior side, posterior side, medial side, lateral side, superior side, inferior side, exterior, and an interior, said upper having an aperture on the superior side for permitting a wearer'"'"'s foot to be inserted into the interior of said upper, said upper comprising a plurality of openings on the inferior side; and

, a removable and replaceable sole component comprising a plurality of traction members having undercut portions, said traction members having shapes suitable for fitting through said plurality of openings, said sole component being insertable through said aperture into the interior of said upper and being partially disposed above the inferior side of said upper and a substantial portion of said plurality of traction members extend through corresponding ones of said plurality of openings, said sole component including said traction members being mechanically engaged to said upper adjacent to said undercut portions, said traction members comprising a substantial portion of the ground engaging surface on the inferior side of said article of footwear.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper comprises a different material secured on the inferior side having different physical properties including greater hardness and wear resistance than other portions of said upper.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein said different material comprises a thermoplastic material.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said undercut portions extend substantially around the entire perimeter of said traction members.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole component comprises a foam material.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said traction members comprise an outsole.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said traction members comprise a foam material portion and a rubber outsole portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole component comprises a backing portion.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a stability element.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an insole.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein said insole is contoured.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein said insole can be removed and replaced as desired by an alternative footwear component, and said alternative footwear component comprises a footwear component selected from the group consisting of an alternate insole, an inner liner, a slipper, a shoe, a boot, an aquatic boot, a cold weather liner, a hot and humid weather liner, and a rock climbing shoe which can be inserted and fit within said article of footwear, whereby the effective size and function provided by said article of footwear can be selectively varied.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings on the inferior side extends upwards on a portion of at least one of the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral sides of the upper, and said sole component comprises an elevated three dimensional configuration and at least one of said traction members extends outwardly from at least one of the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral sides of said upper.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole component extends substantially between the posterior side and the anterior side of said upper.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole component extends substantially between a middle of said upper and the anterior side of said upper.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper comprises at least one stretchable portion which is able to expand and accommodate wearers having different foot lengths and widths and different removable alternative sole components for use corresponding to different foot lengths and widths.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said upper substantially comprising a knit textile material, said upper further comprising a plurality of different sections, each of said different sections comprising a different knit textile material structure.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a footwear component selected from the group of footwear components consisting of mechanical fasteners having male and female parts, hook and pile, insoles, midsoles, heel counters, stabilizers, side supports, frames, sidewalls, lasting boards, laces, straps, toe counters, tongues, vamps, quarters, collars, tips, eyestays, bump stops, springs, spring elements, superior spring elements, inferior spring elements, spring guards, anterior spacers, posterior spacers, fluid-filled bladders, anterior outsole elements, middle outsole elements, posterior outsole elements, cushioning elements, fluid-filled bladders, spikes, cleats, bushings, wear prevention inserts, stability elements, gaskets, intelligent cushioning devices and central processing units.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein said insole comprises a textile material and said insole is coupled in functional relation with said removable and replaceable sole component.

19. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having an anterior side, posterior side, medial side, lateral side, superior side, inferior side, exterior, and an interior, said upper having an aperture on the superior side for permitting a wearer'"'"'s foot to be inserted into the interior of said upper, said upper including a permanently secured sole portion made of a material having different physical properties than other portions of said upper, said sole portion comprising a plurality of openings; and

,

a removable and replaceable sole component comprising a plurality of traction members having undercut portions, said traction members having shapes suitable for fitting through said plurality of openings, said sole component being insertable through said aperture into the interior of said upper and being partially disposed above the inferior side of said upper and a substantial portion of said plurality of traction members extend through corresponding ones of said plurality of openings, said sole component including said traction members being mechanically engaged to said upper adjacent to said undercut portions, said traction members comprising a substantial portion of the ground engaging surface on the inferior side of said article of footwear.